USA to reduce financial aid to Armenia by 67% 

ArmInfo. The administration of the US President Donald Trump released its budget recommendations for the fiscal year 2018 (FY18) before the Congress.

As the press service of the Armenian Assembly of America told  ArmInfo, the proposed budget for FY18, called "A New Foundation for  American Greatness," recommended a 29 percent cut overall and a 60  percent reduction in assistance to Europe and Eurasia.

Under the Administration's budget, aid to Armenia would be reduced by  67 percent, dropping from $20.4 million in FY16 to $6.8 million  proposed for FY18. Compared to other post-Soviet nations in the  region, Georgia and Ukraine are slated for a 58 percent decrease and  a 70 percent decrease in aid, respectively.  Assistance to Azerbaijan  is cut by 90 percent with a total of $1 million envisioned. 

"The Assembly will continue to advance key priorities for the benefit  of the Armenian people and the strengthening of U.S.-Armenia  relations," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.  "As  the current Administration reduces foreign aid across the board, we  must ensure that Armenia has the resources to address the compelling  humanitarian needs as a result of the current refugee crisis and  Turkey's blockade, as well as Azerbaijan's ongoing and deadly  ceasefire violations," Ardouny added.

To note, the Appropriations Committee of the US Senate in 2017  provided Armenia with financial aid of $24.1 million and Azerbaijan -  $ 10.9 million. The Senate also recommended granting $ 1 million as  military assistance and another $ 600,000 for military training. In  general, the allocated aid to Armenia was $ 3 million more than the  US President Barack Obama asked from the budget. The sum of  assistance to Artsakh, provided since 1998, remained unchanged. To  recall, the Committee on Appropriations of the US Senate in the  financial year 2016 provided Armenia with financial assistance in the  amount of $ 20.06 million, as well as $ 1.7 million in military aid  and $ 600,000 for military training. For Azerbaijan and Georgia, US  lawmakers proposed to provide $ 8.778 million in financial assistance  and $ 54 million, respectively.